It also has another unique design . . . Spin Resistance. The cuffs on the leading edge of the wings help to make the Icon resistant to spins. According to a Feb 16, 2012 Wired article, when the Icon goes into production later this year, it "will become the first production aircraft to comply completely with FAA spin resistance standards."

Whenever I hear about spin-resistant aeroplanes, it always reminds me of when they said the Titanic was unsinkable...Al

Gosh! That could be interesting. Which button do you press for that?

The Icon comes with manually folding wings . . . there's an available automatic option where your can fold/unfold the wings from the cockpit (I have no idea how much this options costs). If enough users wanted this feature in Flight's Icon, I'm sure MS could make it available . . . perhaps for 500 MS points.

Whenever I hear about spin-resistant aeroplanes, it always reminds me of when they said the Titanic was unsinkable...Al

Note that the term is spin-resistant . . . NOT spin-proof.According to the article: "

Many production airplane designs have over the years made significant progress toward minimizing the chance of a stall/spin accident. Until now, however, no airplane has been produced that fully complies with what is known as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 23 spin-resistance standards. When the first A5 rolls off the factory floor, it will benefit from decades of NASA and FAA research focused on reducing, or even eliminating, accidents due to the inadvertent stall/spin.

The spin-resistant design doesn't eliminate all potential hazards, but much like anti-lock brakes in automobiles, it dramatically decreases a big hazard."

I just wish the icon had a 120 hp engine instead of 100 hp. It only cruises around 95 knots, sport pilot is allowed to go up to 120. And I think the extra ummph would be good on takeoffs and water takeoffs especially.Scott

Oddly enough, although the actual in-sim model has the wings animated to fold, for some reason it was not made active for release.

I just wish the icon had a 120 hp engine instead of 100 hp. It only cruises around 95 knots, sport pilot is allowed to go up to 120. And I think the extra ummph would be good on takeoffs and water takeoffs especially.Scott

Now I'm really missing a mod community! A 520bhp Icon would be 'fully sick'

I was talking real life!!! A little extra hp and I would be standing in line for one!Scott

Whenever I hear about spin-resistant aeroplanes, it always reminds me of when they said the Titanic was unsinkable...Al

lolI don't mind the Icon, would be better in my opinion if it had the optional attitude indicator installed....

Dont be hatin my Icon!

The Icon A5 in flight makes me seriously think about getting the licence and the plane..

love the Icon too - a plane for the masses. I want a real one (although I may need to acquire a private landing strip and, er, the land first)

Hated it on first start-up of Flight and avoided it ever since.But did the Kayak mission last night (for the points...) and enjoyed it. Looks like a micro-Catalina in the 'Rescue' colours. :Peace:For real life....its small, but still too big for the canal outside my flat!CheersKeith

Whenever I hear about spin-resistant aeroplanes, it always reminds me of when they said the Titanic was unsinkable...Al

Nothing wrong with spin resistance, as long as it doesn't replace spin TRAINING! :)I kinda like the Icon. It's an ultralight that floats, which lets you get into and out of unique places. Sure, the instrumentation is confusingly random, and pretty useless, but this is a sightseeing platform, not a serious airplane.

Oddly enough, although the actual in-sim model has the wings animated to fold, for some reason it was not made active for release.

People are already opening the canopy in flight... imagine what they would do with that button! :Shocked:

People are already opening the canopy in flight... imagine what they would do with that button! :Shocked:

that would definitely increase your sink rate...

I would not turn down the Icon if someone offered me a real one.